Woman’s ‘scary’ find under tyre in Woolworths carpark sparks urgent warning

Police have issued a confronting warning after the mum's discovery in her local shopping centre car park.

Leeann Heffernan (left) and the dangerous object she found (right).
Leeann Heffernan found a dangerous object under her car tyre when parked at her local Woolworths recently. Source: Supplied

Authorities have issued a confronting warning to the public after an Aussie woman discovered an ominous looking timber block with sharp nails protruding out of it under her car tyre at a suburban Woolworths car park. Luckily the mum spotted the object before she got into the car.

Leeann Heffernen found the disturbing object when she returned to her parked car in a shopping centre car park at Tahmoor, on the south western outskirts of Sydney recently and Camden Police have since issued a warning to locals to look out for similar objects.

Heffernen told Yahoo News Australia that she felt "very taken aback and shocked" by the incident, particularly knowing that someone had placed the object there intentionally.

"It definitely makes me feel a little more cautious and reluctant to walk down there alone," she told Yahoo News.

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Heffernen's car had been parked on the back wall of the car park, behind the trolley bay, for the entire day until she returned to the vehicle at 5.30pm.

Haylee Heffernan (left) and Tahmoor Shopping Centre sign (right).
Haylee Heffernan shared a warning online after her mum's scary experience at her local shopping centre. Source: Supplied/Google Maps

Haylee Heffernan, Leanne's daughter said luckily her mum was on the phone as she was approaching her car. "The light from the phone glimmered on a nail, otherwise she would not have noticed," Haylee told Yahoo News.

"It's quite scary to think that it might have been a targeted attack or set up for particular people, knowing that they would be stuck on the side of the road at night.

"However, we are hoping that it's just senseless. We have heard of multiple break-ins in the area, however, this is the first we have heard of this particular style."

Haylee has since shared photos of the wooden block with nails on social media, warning other Aussies to check behind their wheels before driving.

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“Obviously someone has nothing better to do,” Haylee wrote in the post. “How disappointing.”

Camden Police Area Command issued a public warning about the incident, sharing Haylee's photos of the block of wood. The post requested that people be "cautious" of similar items and suggested that they had been placed under multiple cars.

Tahmoor Woolworths car park.
The car park where Leanne had been parked. Source: Google Maps

“These were placed under the wheels of vehicles that were parked in a shopping centre car park in the Tahmoor area,” the post read. “If you find any items such as this, please call Narellan Police Station.”

Haylee said she and Leeann called the police to notify them of the situation, but are yet to make a formal complaint in person.

"While police have not received any formal reports, officers attached to the Camden Police Area Command are aware of an incident involving a vehicle in the Tahmoor area," NSW Police confirmed in a statement provided to Yahoo News Australia.

Hand holds timber block with nails.
The timber block with nails that Leeann found under her car tyre. Source: Facebook/Haylee Heffernan

Aussies responded to Haylee's online warning, with one local saying she had heard of incidents like this previously.

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“Basically people in car parks ... put that brick with the nails under people's car tyres so that when you run over it the tyre pops,” she wrote. “Then these people (who are hanging around waiting) come and offer assistance and rob you. Happening all around the world.”

“Tahmoor is getting so bad,” another person wrote.

As inquiries continue, NSW Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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